I am a bit late with the monthly summary this time. Lots of great releases this month.
There have been so much music that I wanted to write about, but didn’t find the time to listen enough to. So some are just listed without a review, because I found them interesting, but haven’t listened enough. Now that is your job! 🙂

Here is my summary of the releases I loved the most in February.

The list is in no particular order, but the ones I loved the most are marked with a red ||.

A Spotify playlist with songs from this list can be found below or via this link.
Did you miss the other posts in this series? Click the link to view them. 

SINGLES I LOVED THIS MONTH

Elva

From the singles this month, I especially liked these new songs:

Elva – “Athens”  Elizabeth from Allo Darlin’ and Ola from Making Marks are Elva, and this new single is the first from their upcoming album. It is one of those rare songs I want to hear on repeat over and over again. So good. The lyrics feel like a short film. (Spotify)

Flying Fish Cove – “Johnny Paper”  Fun and playful indiepop with a super-catchy and charming sound. They sound like a band I would love to see live and hang around with.  Their sound remind me a bit of Heavenly, Tiger Trap or Talulah Gosh, – but just a bit. (Spotify)

Haunted Summer – “I played cards with Satan – a tribute to Daniel Johnston”  Two covers of Daniel Johnston’s songs, and Haunted Summer make them shine. I love covers that are very different from the original, but make you see the original’s qualities. Haunted Summer’s dreamy, melancholic, airy versions are so beautiful. (Spotify)

Mammoth Penguins – “I wanna”  This one had me hooked from first listen. I just like their way of making melodies, and their lyrics are always good
. Fuzzy, catchy indiepop. (Spotify)

Natalie Evans – “Pavements”  I love Natalie Evans songs and sound. Her main instrument is the harp, but guitars and other instruments are also used. Her voice is amazing. My favourite on this single is actually the B-side, “Always Be”, that I have included in the playlist. (Spotify)

Maria Due – “The colour white”  I am very in love with this song, and I am surprised that Maria Due is not a name all people in her native Norway know, because her music is amazing. After being more or less away from releasing music since 2014, she is finally back. She participated on Dylan Mondegreen’s album last year, and I hope a new album from her is on its way. Impressive pop. (Spotify)

Nudista – “Masters of the universe”  A great track from Nudista, where you hear a singer who sings with her heart. The melody is so good, very good vocals and a very effective and catchy guitar riff.   (Spotify)

Slush – “Middle name”  I believe this is the debut single from Melbourne power pop trio Slush. They remind me a bit of the punky pop of The Tuts or Tacocat
. “Middle Name” makes me want to hear more – much more – from Slush. (Spotify)

You will find even more of my other favourite singles in the Spotify list.

ALBUMS I LOVED THIS MONTH

It’s for Us

It’s for Us – Stay || Stockholm quartet It’s for Us is one of the more interesting bands in Sweden right now, and their new album is amazing. The band play melodic modern post-punk, with tight rhythms, moving basslines, chiming guitars and wonderful vocals. Vocalist/bassist Camilla Karlsson sounds like a modern version of Sioxsie Sioux or the rougher sides of Elizabeth Fraser.  (Spotify)

Abigail Lapell – Getaway  || Canadian Abigail Lapell’s music is not the typical style I usually listen to, but there is something in her emotional warm voice and songs that touches me. It’s a lovely album. “Folk noir”/roots.  (Spotify)

Cherry Glazerr – Stuffed & Ready || This is great! Melodic indie with just enough roughness. Cool vocals from Clementine Creevy.   (Spotify)

Tiny Ruins – Olympic Girls || Another stunning album from Tiny Ruins
. I am a huge fan of her music, and I am already deeply in love with this new album. “Olympic Girls” has arrangements with more band-focus, and I really think it suits the music. It’s just beautiful all through. Can’t wait to see her live in Oslo soon.  (Spotify)

(more releases after the photo)

Calva Louise (photo by Annie Warner)

Calva Louise – Rhinoceros  || London trio Calva Louise play refreshing, fuzzy energy-pop, with a great singer (Jess Allanic) who manages to sound both wild, raw, powerful and sweet, often in the same song. The songs are full of contrasts, and can go from a full fuzz chorus with a punky garage attitude to a sweet 50s sounding pop part and then into some South-Amerian inspired thing and boom into the wild again. An impressive debut! (Spotify)

SPOOL – SPOOL || The four girls in the Japanese band SPOOL have made a really good debut that is a pleasure listening to. Blissful, dreamy shoegaze with lovely layered vocals and harmonies. (Spotify)

Business of Dreams – Ripe for anarchy || A very nice melodic indiepop album from Terry Malts/Magic Bullets founder Corey Buckingham, now solo as Business of Dreams. The album is out on Slumberland Records, which for many says a lot about the quality of the music.  (Spotify)

Whoa Melodic – Whoa Melodic || In January, Whoa Melodic’s amazing single “I will never let you down” was one of my picks, and the album gives us more of those lovely melodies. (Spotify)

(more releases after the photo)

Tullycraft

Tullycraft  – The Railway Prince Hotel || It’s such a great feeling when you are looking forward to a new album from one of your favourite bands, fearing that you will be disappointed, and then getting something way better than you expected. That is how I felt when I listened to Tullycraft’s new album. I still feel that way
. The music is full of details, charm, stories and lovely melodies. Indiepop.   (Spotify)

Jessica Pratt – Quiet Signs || This is a very beautiful album. “Quiet” is a correct word to describe this. Nothing is loud here, and it is perfect. Intimate, delicate arrangements for piano, flute, organ, acoustic guitar and strings and her unique voice. Airy, dreamy, lovely.  (Spotify)

Piroshka – Brickbat || To be honest, I am just mentioning this here because I have been expecting it to be great. I really wanted to like this. Really. My feeling about this was actually the complete opposite of the previously mentioned Tullycraft album. Piroshka is, as many of you know, an indie supergroup with members of Lush, Elastica, Moose and Modern English, – all bands I love, so I had high hopes. It has its moments, – but great? No.
I have written far too many words about it now. (Spotify)

(more releases after the photo)

Star Horse (photo by Sven Joel Nordvall)

Star Horse – You said forever || Stockholm quartet Star Horse have released several wonderful singles and EPs since 2011, but this is their debut album. Great songs that balance brilliantly between creating a dreamy atmosphere and building energy. Dreampop/indiepop/shoegaze.  (Spotify)

Young Hunting – True believers || I am really enjoying this. I guess you can call this a comeback album, since their first and previous album came in 2013. Sweet, 50s/60s inspired classic popsongs with a modern sound

. Gorgeous melodies and soft, airy vocals. I am pretty sure you will enjoy this.  (Spotify)

Chain Wallet – No ritual || The second album from the Norwegian indiepoppers Chain Wallet is pretty sunshiny, despite that their hometown Bergen is known for rain, rain, rain. There are so many songs here that don’t want to leave your head after listening to them.  (Spotify)

(more releases after the photo)

Pom Poko (photo by Jørgen Nordby)

Pom Poko – Birthday || Do you like the weirdness, raw energy and fun rhythms of Deerhoof? Do you want this even more catchy? Then you should listen to the Norwegian band Pom Poko. The album is fun, weird, interesting and just lovely. (Spotify)

The Young Gods – DATA MIRAGE TANGRAM || The Swiss industrial band have been around since the late 80s, and to be honest, I haven’t listened to them since then. Their early records were played a lot in my house. This new album is really interesting. I remember their early works as quite hard, but this is more atmospheric and experimental in sound, but still song-focused. A good mix between the organic and the electronic.  (Spotify)

Evi Vine – Black // Light // White // Dark || It’s dark and gloomy, sometimes pretty rough, and always very beautiful, with Evi Vine’s stunning voice in front
. The music may remind of both Portishead, the darker side of The Cure and bands from the early days of 4ad. On the album, they have Simon Gallup from the Cure as guest. A very beautiful album.  (Spotify)

INTERESTING ALBUMS THAT I NEED TO LISTEN TO MORE

Anemone

SPC ECO – Fifteen || Dark post punk/trip hop. (Spotify)

Golden Daze – Simpatico || Dreamy pop  (Spotify)

Anemone – Beat my distance || Dreamy pop  (Spotify)

The Lost Cavalry – Storms || Folky pop  (Spotify)

Le SuperHomard – Meadow Lane Park || Retro pop with summery Stereolab/Broadcast vibes  (Spotify)

Desperate Journalist – In search of the miraculous || Indiepop  (Spotify)

EPs I LOVED THIS MONTH

THYLA (Photo Jamie MacMillan)

Thyla – What’s on your mind || Brighton quartet THYLA’s dreamy postpunk/shoegaze has impressed me  since I first heard them in 2017/2018. This EP shows them from their very best side.  (Spotify)

Buffalo Postcard – Morning Chimes || This is lovely. The London trio make jangly indiepop with gorgeous melodies. The EP also includes a cover of The Velvet Underground’s “Stephanie says”. (Spotify)

Lost Tapes – The Bill || Well crafted 80s inspired catchy indiepop from Spain. Lovely songs, as always. (Spotify)

FUR – FUR || FUR combine the sound of the 50s with modern indie, and adds lyrical themes of love and heartbreak. I really like this.  (Spotify)

SASAMI – Free || Former synth-player for Cherry Glazerr, Sasami Ashworth’s solo-project. Lovely melancholic dreampop with shoegaze elements. At times a bit “Broadcasty”.  Her debut album is out now. (Spotify)

Jupiter Sprites – Jupiter Sprites || Very fine psychedelic dreampop. The opening song from the EP, “Only Good Stuff”, is a delight to listen to.  (Spotify)

Listen to most of the songs from this list on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/user/eardrumspop/playlist/3tifv5IgZjKmpUkhW22z3e